William “Bill” Dorrell Jr., 78, of Mount Pleasant, died Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington. Funeral services are pending at Olson-Yoder Funeral Home & Crematory. www.olsonyoderfh.com
Norma Rodgers
Norma Rodgers, 93 years old, passed away on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Park Place, Mount Pleasant Iowa. She was born on June 19, 1932, in rural Henry County, Iowa, on a farm near Swedesburg to Guy and Wilma Eubank. She attended school for seven years at Crawford Country School west of Olds, and graduated from Olds High School in 1950. On September 9, 1951, she married Cleo Rodgers at Finley Chapel. They made their home on the family farm between Olds and Winfield where they raised their children together until Cleo’s death in 1969 when she moved into Olds. Norma kept busy helping to run their dairy farm where she had a large garden. She would can and freeze much of her garden produce. She also made crab apple jelly every year. One of her specialties was making homemade fudge and divinity at Christmas time. She taught Sunday school, led youth group, coached her daughter’s softball teams, and supported her family in the many sports and activities they participated in. She enjoyed traveling with family and friends and did missions work in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kentucky.
She was a member of Finley Chapel where she belonged to UMW, their women’s group.
Norma was an excellent seamstress, making most of her children’s clothes when they were younger and assisted her nieces in sewing their wedding attire. Most recently, until she was no longer able, she sewed hundreds of school bags for Missions Ingathering. Those bags may still be in use today in another part of the world.
She was a talented artist, mostly doing sketches, but she was also successful when she tried her hand at painting.
She was also a skilled typist assisting her nephews with term papers, typing them on an old standard typewriter. Her typing skills were put to good use following Cleo’s death as she worked as a secretary in the Alumni Office at IWC and later as a transcriptionist at HCHC. Following her retirement, she lived with her sister, Alice Hawbaker in Tucson, Arizona, for a few years before returning to Iowa and living in Swedesburg and more recently Mount Pleasant.
She is survived by her son Dave (Joan) Rodgers rural Mount Pleasant, and daughters Kathy (Randy) Seberg, Mount Pleasant, Carol (Dennis) Hulseberg, Wellman, Robin (Scott) Fisher, New London and Tracy Rodgers, Des Moines. Also, her grandchildren Tyler (Angie) Rodgers, Craig (Jess) Rodgers, Aimee (Greg) Shepherd, Kim Seberg, Nathan (Jenny) Seberg, Emma (Brett) Dwyer, Ada Hulseberg, Andres (Andrea) Alvarez, Normita (Ty) Watson, and Mateo Alvarez and 18 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, grandson Justin Rodgers, great grandson Christian Seberg and her sisters Mary Boal and Alice Hawbaker.
Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 20, 2025, at Finley United Methodist Church. Pastor Lindsey Ford will officiate. Burial will be in the Finley Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Olson-Yoder-Funeral Home and Crematory where the family will greet friends from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. A memorial fund has been established for the Finley Cemetery. Condolences may be made at www.olsonyoderfh.com
Arraignment Set for Mt. Pleasant Man on Drug-Related Charges
19-year-old Gavin King of Mt. Pleasant was arrested on four drug-related charges in September, and his arraignment hearing has been set for November 4th in the Henry County Courthouse. Records show a joint investigation between the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Iowa State Patrol Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force enabled them to intercept a narcotics shipment addressed to King at his Mt. Pleasant residence. A search warrant was executed, and law enforcement found the package included THC vape devices, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, drug paraphernalia, packaging material, firearms and scales. King’s initial appearance was on September 12th, and he was released on a $20,000 bond.
Authorities arrested Gavin King on two felony counts of controlled substance violation, and two counts of failure to affix drug tax stamp, class D felonies.
MPCHS Announces “Portrait of a Panther” Students for Fall 2025
The Mount Pleasant Community High School is proud to announce the August/September Portrait of a Panther students: Senior Gavin Kerr, Junior Amanda Stonehouse, and Junior Edward Seymoure. Two other students were nominated, and they are Sophomores Daniel Hagans and Aiden Krogmeier. Students are nominated for “Portrait of a Panther” by staff members for displaying one or more of the following qualities: resilience, integrity, compassion, responsibility, communication, and problem solving. We are Panther Proud and Congratulate these students.
Early Voting for the November 4th Election in Progress
Early voting in Iowa began this week and runs until Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 4th. Citizens can vote and/or register to vote at the county auditor’s office, and you will need a valid ID. The Henry County Auditor’s Office is located at 100 E Washington St # 202 in Mt. Pleasant. Hours are Monday – Friday 8am – 4:30pm and for more information, call 319-385-0756 or access online: henrycounty.iowa.gov/auditor
Bridge Closure Planned for Henry County on 10/20/25
Henry County Engineers announced a bridge closure on Monday, October 2oth. Preliminary design work will begin on 200th Street just East of Hickory Avenue and the work will last through Tuesday, October 21st. The Engineers’ office reports that the closure will occur during daytime hours, with the bridge open overnight. The work is weather permitting, scheduled for two days, and questions may be directed to 319-385-0762.
Danville City Council to Meet
MP Man Arrested in Washington
The Washington Police Department arrested 44-year-old Lucas Blint of Mt. Pleasant on public intoxication and arson charges on Tuesday, October 14th this week. According to court records, officers responded to a fire call on the northeast corner of the Washington Hy-Vee grocery store’s property and found Blint on the scene. Camera footage showed Blint starting the fire, which recklessly endangered the property of the store.